Policies

Policies and Philosophies

ZTA prides itself on fostering sisterhood among its members. Part of committing to sisterhood means taking responsibility for yourself and your actions, as well as showing care and concern for others. Following ZTA policies and making safety a priority is big part of every Zeta’s personal responsibility.

Alcohol and Drugs Policy

The primary policies ZTA has concerning alcohol and drugs boil down to following local, state and federal laws.

Alcohol: The possession, sale, use or consumption of alcoholic beverages while on chapter premises or during a fraternity event, in any situation sponsored or endorsed by the chapter, or at any event an observer would associate with the fraternity, must be in compliance with any and all applicable laws of the state, province, county, city and institution of higher education and must comply with either the BYOB or Third-Party Vendor guidelines.

Illegal Drugs and Controlled Substances: The possession, sale or use of any illegal drugs or controlled substances while on chapter premises, during a fraternity event or at any event that an observer would associate with the fraternity, is strictly prohibited.

Anti-Hazing Policy

No chapter, new chapter, student or alumna shall conduct, participate in or condone hazing activities. Permission or approval by a person being hazed is not a defense. Hazing activities are defined as: “Any action taken or situation created intentionally, whether on or off fraternity premises, to produce mental or physical discomfort, embarrassment, harassment or ridicule. Such activities may include but are not limited to the following: use of alcohol; paddling in any form; creation of excessive fatigue; physical and psychological shocks; quests, treasure hunts, scavenger hunts, road trips or any other such activities carried on outside or inside of the confines of the chapter house; wearing of public apparel which is conspicuous or not normally in good taste; engaging in public stunts and buffoonery; morally degrading or humiliating games and activities; and any other activities which are not consistent with academic achievement, fraternal law, ritual or policy or the regulations and policies of the educational institution or applicable state law.”

Zeta Tau Alpha does not condone any form of hazing by any member, new member or alumnae member. Such activities conflict with the Fraternity’s ideals and traditions and project a negative image of the organization. ZTA collegiate chapters must develop new member programs that reflect the true meaning and high standards of sisterhood. These programs must not demean, embarrass or endanger members or new members.

Harm Reduction Philosophy

The Fraternity’s Harm Reduction initiatives seek to instill confidence in its members to make decisions based on Zeta Tau Alpha’s Nine Key Values. The vision is that all members will make healthy choices with a goal of continued personal growth for a lifetime.

Through facilitated conversations, Harm Reduction Education advances students in making intelligent, fair and reasonable choices within the boundaries of laws, policies and educational mission. Harm Reduction Education emphasizes concern for the safety and well-being of all undergraduate and alumnae Zeta Tau Alpha members.

The Harm Reduction Education upholds the following:

The Fraternity expects all members to show respect and civility to those “within and without our circle.”

The Fraternity expects individuals to make safe, responsible and legal choices. When incongruent behavior occurs, a chapter should take corrective action facilitated through organizational accountability.

Every member has the responsibility to keep themselves, their sisters, their chapter, and the overall international organization safe.

Zeta Tau Alpha chapters and their members share responsibility to lead innovative community prevention in partnership with other organizations.

Harm Reduction Education promotes intentional chapter programming, social practice education and well informed individual decisions of ZTA members that result in “the building up of a nobler and purer womanhood in the world.”

Digital Media Policy

The policy applies to any individual or entity who creates or maintains a Zeta Tau Alpha website on behalf of a colony, chapter or an individual member, and any individual or entity using the Zeta Tau Alpha name or letters in internet communications. Internet communications include email accounts, mailing lists, bulletins, social networking sites, co-sharing sites, chat rooms, and discussion groups.

The policy states that all such website and internet communications must comply with all appropriate federal, state and local laws; college and university rules and regulations; National Panhellenic Conference rules and regulations; and the Zeta Tau Alpha Constitution and Bylaws and policies.

These internet/electronic communications may not:

Defame, abuse, harass or threaten other individuals

Contain material that is obscene, pornographic, or otherwise offensive to a person of ordinary sensibilities

Include links to personal/commercial sites that are inconsistent with the values and standards of Zeta Tau Alpha

Include product endorsements or other personal/commercial advertising unless approved in writing by the National President

Include any copyrighted material from other sources or trademarks owned by third parties without the express written consent of the copyright or trademark owner

Include references to alcohol, illegal drugs or hazing with the exception of educational material about these issues

Use inappropriate language

Share sensitive Fraternity information (such as discussion of Rituals or information revealed to members through Rituals)

For safety and privacy, members should avoid publishing personal information such as addresses, telephone numbers and personal calendars on the websites.

Zeta Tau Alpha Fraternity reserves the right to (although it shall be under no obligation to) remove links or access to sites that do not comply with these policies.

Membership Selection Policy

Zeta Tau Alpha is an international women’s social fraternity, founded in Christian traditions, that has chosen to adopt membership selection policies that do not discriminate based on race, creed, ethnicity, religion, national origin, sexual orientation or disability. Zeta Tau Alpha membership is open to individuals who consistently live and self-identify as women.

ZTA is a private sisterhood organization operating through Nine Key Values, whose object is “to intensify friendship, to promote happiness among its members, and in every way to create such sentiments, perform such deeds and to mould such opinions as will conduce to the building up of a nobler and purer womanhood in the world.”

Sexual Misconduct and Relational Violence Philosophy

The Fraternity’s aim is to eliminate sexual misconduct perpetrated against or by any of our members. Zeta Tau Alpha is highly concerned about any activity that could be considered mentally, physically or emotionally unsafe. Our Fraternity believes very strongly in promoting the development of healthy relationships and social environments through our chapters.

The Fraternity works to address the underlying causes of sexual misconduct and relational violence. As such, Zeta Tau Alpha supports an educational approach that encourages healthy interactions among all people and reinforces the Fraternity’s emphasis on creating a supportive sisterhood and the sharing of mutual respect.

The Fraternity is unequivocally opposed to all acts of sexual misconduct and relational violence and expects our members to follow the laws across the United States that have made these behaviors illegal. Additionally, the Fraternity expects members to follow campus-specific policies that prohibit such behaviors.

The Fraternity supports and enhances the mission of the host institution by encouraging our chapters to participate actively in local university programming and resources and to take a leadership role in initiating and supporting prevention activities.

As a subset of the campus community, the Fraternity collaborates with the host institution to address the problems of sexual misconduct and relational violence including leveraging campus resources to educate our members and assist all parties.

The Fraternity utilizes the “stop, report and support” process as a resource and guide to assist our members that have been the target of sexual misconduct of any kind, including but not limited to sexual assault.

Inclusion Philosophy

Zeta Tau Alpha is a sisterhood made of many individual women and it celebrates the uniqueness each sister brings. We respect and support each member’s personal identity, and we seek to provide an accepting environment within every chapter. We believe in creating a space of belonging for every member. We expect everyone to treat their sisters with love, the greatest of all things.

ZTA has an Inclusion Committee that continues to integrate diversity and inclusion conversations throughout the membership experience. ZTA believes topics related to diversity and inclusion do not happen in a bubble or a one-time program. ZTA is committed to this being an ongoing conversation through one of ZTA’s Nine Key Values focusing on openness to diversity and challenge, called Seeking Understanding That We Might Gain True Wisdom in ZTA’s Creed.

Non-Discrimination Policy

Zeta Tau Alpha is an international women’s social fraternity that does not discriminate based on race, creed, ethnicity, religion, national origin, sexual orientation or disability. Zeta Tau Alpha membership is open to individuals who consistently live and self-identify as women.

ZTA is a private sisterhood organization operating through Nine Key Values, whose object is “to intensify friendship, to promote happiness among its members, and in every way to create such sentiments, perform such deeds and to mould such opinions as will conduce to the building up of a nobler and purer womanhood in the world.”